5 Things You Could Be Doing Instead Of Shopping This Black Friday

Even though this is MTV UK, for some reason it’s still Black Friday. Fresh from celebrating Thanksgiving (we haven’t been doing that) it’s a day for everybody to pour into the shops and fight over slightly lower priced TVs, apparently. Hurray.

You might have noticed, we’re not keen on Black Friday. This year, even though ASDA (who basically gave us Black Friday in the first place) aren’t taking part it’s estimated shoppers will spend over £1 BILLION, that’s about £12,000 per second over the day. Of course, we love a bargain as much as the next person but with the addition of the often dangerous overcrowding and promotion of unnecessary spending of money that would be better off elsewhere, this seems excessive.

So with that in mind we thought we’d suggest some stuff that you could do that doesn’t involve wrestling an 80 year old woman for that last flat-screen, enjoy!

OptOutside

This year, top outdoor goods store REI are ditching Black Friday in favour of the great outdoors. Using the hashtag #OptOutside, REI are closing all their stores but keeping their employees on the payroll for a day outdoors and encouraging others to do the same. Simply put “REI believes that being outside makes our lives better.” Too right it does. So put down your wallet, grab a coat and go climb up a mountain! Or go down the park and play with a dog or something, up to you!

Find a better place for your money

We can’t tell you what do, but all we ask is that you take a second to think; do I really need this new laptop, maybe the one I have is just fine. If so, then maybe think of somewhere where the cash you would be spending could be put to better use. There are literally hundreds of charities out there who could benefit from any small donation. Or maybe there’s someone you know who’s fallen on hard times, or maybe you could even just keep it and save for something more important. You worked hard for this money (probably), don’t let it go to waste.

Help out at your local homeless shelter

While some people are out there loading up on discount iPhones let’s not forget that there are people on those same streets with absolutely nothing. As winter sets in things are only getting harder for homeless people with around 2,800 people estimated to be sleeping rough on any one night. So look up your local homeless shelter and help those less fortunate, it’ll make you (and them) feel way better than spending we promise.

Play Cards Against Humanity

A photo posted by Rafael👣 And Fifo🐾 (@rafysoto_) on Dec 16, 2014 at 6:53am PST

Stay with us, this isn’t a totally random suggestion. Cards Against Humanity own Black Friday. Last year rather than selling their game like normal CAH sold $6 boxes of “bulls**t” which contained, yep you guessed it, actual poop and this year they’ve actually raised their prices in protest of the ‘holiday’. “we all really hate Black Friday, it’s just kind of a horrible day,” said game co-creator Max Temkin of the unusual offer “It comes after this day where you’re supposed to be thankful for what you have, and then it’s just this whole huge media spectacle of people fighting each other to save $50 on a TV.” Even more unusual is the fact the 30,000 people actually brought it! All profits went to Heifer International, a charity working to eradicate poverty and hunger. So show your appreciation for this kind of gross, but brilliant idea from Cards Against Humanity by having a game yourselves.

If you must shop, do it somewhere good

You’re not going to listen to us, are you. Sometimes there’s just get an itch only shopping can scratch. But if you must get involved there are lots of places you can go where it’s about more than just the money. Fat Face for example are giving 10% of their profits to local charities and Pets At Home (the BEST place to shop) will be turning members points into charity donations. There are plenty of others who have got wind that maybe Black Friday isn’t such a great idea so just do a quick google before you head out and find somewhere you can get some retail therapy but still do some good.